KR0156376B1 - Built-in flash system of camera - Google Patents

Abstract

The pop-up device is a pop-up device in which the flash unit is normally flashed in the protruding position, the macron photographing position is possible in the storing position in the storage compartment, and is moved upward from the protruding position to the bouncing position. Movable between the protruding position and the retracted position by a pair of four-point linkages disposed on the side of the flash system, each of the four-point linkages consisting of two pairs of front and rear levers that do not cross each other; The front end portions of the front and rear rotation levers are pivoted on the corresponding side of both sides of the casing, so that the front and rear rotation levers move the casing upwards from the retracted position to the protruding position.

Description

Camera's built-in flash unit

1 is a partial perspective view showing a light emitting part of a built-in flash as a first embodiment according to the present invention.

2 is a front view showing a built-in flash coupled within a single-lens reflex camera body with auto focus.

3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the camera body portion taken along the optical axis, in which the built-in flash is accommodated.

4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the built-in flash protrudes.

5 and 6 show an auxiliary spotlight projector light system suitable for a camera according to the invention.

7 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the storage state according to the second embodiment.

8 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the protruding state.

9 and 10 are perspective and sectional views of one example of the locking device.

11 is a perspective view showing the rear of the storage compartment.

12 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a light emission range by a built-in flash and a photographing range by a camera lens;

13 and 14 are vertical cross-sectional views of respective storage states and protrusion states, respectively, in which a camera with a built-in flash is shown as a third embodiment according to the present invention.

15 is a front view showing the appearance of the camera.

16 is a partial perspective view showing a third embodiment of the built-in flash device in the camera according to the present invention.

16a shows a variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

17 and 18 are cross-sectional views of the flash unit at the normal light emitting position and the storing position according to the fifth embodiment, respectively.

19 is a partial plan view of the built-in flash unit.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

16: storage room 22: diffused lens

23 xenon tube 25 condensing lens

27: ceiling tube 42: shaft

50: lock lever 51: the imaging lens

56: light source

The present invention relates to a camera equipped with a built-in flash.

Recently, many cameras have been proposed in the field of single-lens reflex cameras, including autofocus devices and built-in flashes, with the promotion of automatic mechanization. In general, a method of measuring the distance from the subject based on the contrast of the subject image transmitted through the lens has been used in the auto focus apparatus in the above-described single-lens reflex camera. Thus, in the case where the subject's illuminance is low or when the subject has a low contrast, such as a white wall, the output of the device is not enough to measure the distance. To solve this problem, install an auxiliary spotlight projector for emitting a contrast pattern (stripe pattern) toward the subject, and in case of low illumination or low contrast, the contrast required to focus by emitting a contrast pattern from the auxiliary spot projector It has been proposed to obtain. However, conventional auxiliary spotlight projectors have been provided separately from the built-in flash. The solution of the problem thus depends on how to make room for the auxiliary spotlight projector in the single-lens reflex camera with the proposed space.

The single-lens reflex camera also has a subject in the range from the close-up distance to the infinite distance as its target. The optimal focal length lens is selected according to the end of the subject and the distance from the subject. The cylinder length of the interchangeable lens is enlarged according to its focal length. In recent years, with the enhancement of zoom lenses, photographers using zoom lenses that can be used from optical lenses to telephoto lenses instead of conventional fixed focal length interchangeable lenses are increasing. In general, the cylinder length of the zoom range is determined by the maximum focal length. Thus, even if the zoom lens is moved to the minimum focal length position, the cylinder length is not so short.

Therefore, when the built-in flash unit is incorporated in the single-lens reflex camera, it is important to design the camera so that light emission is not blocked by the lens cylinder.

Also in the conventional built-in flash, the flash is fixed in the storage position by a lock device that engages the pin provided in the flash portion or link mechanism with the hook provided in the camera body. However, the lock device has the following disadvantages. When the pressure is released after being pressed down by the light emitting unit and moved below the storage position, and then the pressure is released after the pin is engaged with the hook, there is always a gap between the pin and the hook, which causes the light emitting unit to move slightly in the opposite direction of the pressure or in other words. Is slightly returned toward the protruding position. For this reason, a small space is created between the open line portion of the storage compartment and the ceiling plate of the flash.

Such a space gives the user a bad impression on the adjustment performance and appearance of the camera as a precise machine.

The camera also has two built-in flash types: fixed and retractable. The conventional retractable built-in flash is arranged in such a way that the flash unit, which has been advanced by the spring means in the protruding direction, is held in the retracted position by the usual stop / engagement means, and thus, during use, it is removed from the protruding position by removing the stop / engagement means. The flash unit can be moved. Therefore, shock due to protrusion is unavoidable, and moreover, a high level of sense of operation cannot be obtained. In addition, it cannot be denied that the shock adversely affects the camera, which is a precise machine. Also, according to the conventional retractable built-in flash, the light emitting surface of the flash cannot be moved to a bouncing position where the light emitting surface is more upward than the direction toward the subject. If bounce shooting is required, another external flash is required.

On the basis of the recognition of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which does not require a large space to provide an auxiliary spotlight projector. In the present invention, in particular, the auxiliary spotlight projector is accommodated by the popup device on the basis of the fact that the auxiliary spotlight projector is used for low illumination or in contrast and the fact that the built-in flash is mainly used for low illumination. It is provided adjacent to the flash of the built-in flash device which is selectively fixed in position and protruding position.

In the case where the auxiliary spotlight projector provided adjacent to the flash is fixed by the pop-up device in the protruding position and the receiving position with the flash, the space for accommodating the auxiliary spotlight projector can be used because the auxiliary spotlight projector and the flash can be used simultaneously. Not only is it easy to ensure, but it is also easy to adjust. In addition, the camera can have a good appearance. This is because the auxiliary spotlight projector and the flash can be kept in the stowed position when not in use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure, reliable operation, and easy placement of the flash itself into a higher and advanced light emitting position.

Based on the conclusions suitable for a pop-up mechanism, here simply referred to as a pop-up device, the rotary device by means of a four-point connection device is proposed. That is, in the built-in flash pop-up device of the present invention, the casing is arranged to be moved between the protruding position and the retracted position by a pair of four-point connecting devices disposed on the left and right sides of the built-in flash, and each of the four point connecting devices has two pairs. It consists of a front and rear lever, one end of each pair of front and rear rotation levers pivoted to the corresponding one of both sides of the storage compartment, and the other end of the front and rear rotation levers to the corresponding one of both sides of the casing . The apparatus is advantageous in that its structure is very simple and the number of parts is small, the assembly rate is good, and the operation is sure. It is also easy to meet the condition that the flash must be placed in a higher and more advanced protruding position.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a locking device for locking the pop-up device so that when the flash is placed in the retracted position, the compartment securely covers the top plate of the flash so that any space between the ceiling plate and the receptacle is between the open lines. It also prevents the occurrence of and prevents the ceiling plate from rising from the storage compartment.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a built-in flash type having a rotary lever for moving the flash between the projected position and the retracted position, so as to engage / disengage with the stop surface of the rotary lever moved to the flash retracted position. The lock lever with the top stop / engagement surface disposed is pivoted relative to the compartment, and the top stop / engagement surface of the lock lever is formed as a wedge surface that performs wedge motion when the rotary lever moves toward the flash housing position. And the lock lever is arranged to move in the shaft direction of the rotary lever such that the upper stop / engagement surface of the lock lever engages / disengages with the stop / engagement surface of the rotary lever.

It is still another object of the present invention to arrange the flash unit so that it can be moved between the protruding position and the retracted position to obtain a high level of operating sensation without any impact, and also the light emitting surface of the flash unit is directed upward more than the direction toward the subject. It is to provide a built-in flash unit that can move the flash unit to the bouncing position.

The invention is due to the flash unit which is moved to the projecting position by the spring means being driven continuously by the electric motor. That is, in the built-in flash according to the present invention, the flash unit is placed on the upper part of the camera so that the light emitting surface can be moved between a normal light emitting position facing the subject and a storing position with the light emitting surface facing further downward than the direction facing the subject. And the flash unit is moved between the normal light emitting position and the storing position by the electric motor.

Suitably, the flash unit can be moved by the electric motor to one of the bouncing position, the normal luminous position and the housing position, and the flash unit can also be moved to the bouncing position further upward than the direction in which the luminous surface faces the subject. To enable bounce-photography.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable built-in flash device with an adjustable emission angle to solve the problems in conventional built-in flashes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a built-in flash device in which a flash unit is arranged that can be moved between the protruding position and the housing position to obtain a high level of feeling of operation without any impact.

A built-in flash device of a camera according to the present invention, comprising: a flash unit disposed on an upper portion of a camera and arranged to be moved between a normal light emitting position to which a light emitting surface is exposed and a storage position to which the light emitting surface is not exposed; Provided in front of the light emitting surface of the unit, there is provided a condensing lens arranged to move with the flash unit between the normal light emitting position and the receiving position, and the distance between the flash unit and the light collecting lens at the normal light emitting position is variable. . Appropriately, the flash unit and the condenser lens are moved by the electric motor, so that there is no shock caused by the movement of the condenser lens and the flash unit between the normal light emitting position and the receiving position, and a high level of operating feeling can be obtained.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the present specification.

1 is a partial perspective view showing a light emitting part of a built-in flash as a first embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing a built-in flash attached to a general reflex camera body having an auto focus device, and FIGS. 3 and 4 Fig. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the camera body along the optical axis showing the pop-up device of the built-in flash.

Since the casing 20 of the built-in flash according to the present invention is divided into two boxes 21a and 21b, the flash F is provided in one box 21a, and the auxiliary spotlight projector S for enabling distance measurement is replaced with another box ( 21b). The collection lens 22 is provided in front of the box 21a, and the xenon tube (light emitting element) 23 and the reflection mirror 24 are attached to the back surface of the box 21a. The condenser lens 25 formed together with the collecting lens is installed in front of the box 21a, and a spotlight projector 26 for radiating a stripe pattern so that the distance can be measured is attached to the back of the box 21b.

The casing 20 is attached to the storage compartment 16 provided in the pentahouse 12 of the camera body 10 via a popup device such that it is movable between the protruding position and the housing position. The structure is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

A storage chamber 16 for housing the casing 20 is provided on the upper front surface of the penta prism 14 housed in the penta house 12. The casing 20 has a ceiling plate 27 that forms a closed shape with the penta house 12 when it is put in the storage chamber 16.

A pop-up connection device (means) is provided between the side plate 28 and the wall of the storage compartment 16, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the casing 20. The structure on the left is the same as the structure on the right. Hereinafter, the present invention is described with respect to one side. The shafts 34 and 40 are inserted into the holes 28a and 28b respectively formed in the side plate 28. The first lever 32 and the second lever 38 are rotatably supported on the shafts 34, 40, respectively. The other ends of the first and second levers 32, 38 are attached to the pentahouses 12 in the storage compartment 16, respectively, via the shafts 36, 42, thus providing a four-bar connection to the casing 20. It forms a pop-up mechanism composed of four-bar linkage. At the bend of the shaft 36, the U-shaped first lever 32 is supported. A torsional spring, not shown, is attached to the shaft 42 of the second lever 38, thereby moving the second lever 38 counterclockwise in the drawing or in other words moving the casing 20 in an upward and forward direction. Move it.

Furthermore, the lock lever 50 is rotatably supported by the shaft 42, and one end of the torsion spring is fixed to the shaft 42 to move the lock lever 50 clockwise. However, the moving range of the lock lever 50 is proposed as a contact between a part of the lock lever 50 and the inner wall of the storage chamber. When the casing 20 is located in the storage compartment 16, the top end of the lock lever 50 is engaged with the lock surface 32a of the first leisure 32 so that the first lever does not rotate counterclockwise. The casing 20 is supported in the housing position by the force of the torsion spring and does not move to the protruding position.

The engagement of the lock surface 32a with the lock lever 50 is released by vertically moving the lock lever 50 through an unillustrated unlocking member attached to the pentahouse 12 side.

In the above-described built-in flash, when the casing 20 is moved to the protruding position by the operation of the unlocking member, the flash F and the auxiliary spotlight projector S are simultaneously exposed as shown in Figs. In this state, the xenon tube 23 of the built-in flash starts preparing for light emission, while the spotlight projector is ready for spotlighting. If the photographer presses the shooting button of the camera body 10, the spotlight projector 26 is activated to emit a stripe pattern, and the distance from the subject to the camera body 10 with reference to the contrast of the subject corresponding to the stripe pattern. Detected within. Next, the lens is moved to the focus position in accordance with the distance detection signal. If the shooting button (release button) is pushed further down, a series of processes such as upward movement of the mirror, traveling of the focal plane, and light emission of the xenon tube 23 are completed.

The above-described operating method is applied when the flash unit F and the auxiliary spotlight projector S are used at the same time, that is, in the case of low illuminance. In practice, the method is frequently used. Thus, the built-in flash can be easily handled. Of course, the auxiliary spotlight projector S can also be used alone in the case of low contrast.

In this case, a switch may be provided to stop the operation of the flash F despite the popup of the casing 20.

In the above-described embodiment, the casing is formed integrally, but it is also possible to divide the casing for the flash and the spotlight projector, where the flash and the spotlight may swing up independently of each other. In this case, the same connecting device is provided for each of the flash and the spotlight casing.

In the present invention, it is not intended to suggest the type and location of the device for popping the casing. By way of example, the device may be provided as a grip portion, film take-up portion, etc. in the camera body 10. In this case, the popup device can be moved vertically so that the flash F and the auxiliary spotlight projector S can be arranged vertically.

5 and 6 are side and perspective views of a suitable form of the optical system in the focus detection assist light projecting device, namely the auxiliary spot projector S shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the invention. The device is intended to be applied to a camera with a built-in AF system of the TTL type.

In the figure, a imaging lens 51 is included in the camera. In order to display an image of a subject (not shown) to be formed at the focus on the film surface 52, the imaging or imaging lens 51 is located at the dotted line or dotted line corresponding to the result of the focus detection from the position indicated by the solid line. It is used to drive to the position marked with.

The imaging lens 51 can also be used as a lens in a focus detection system, such that a portion of the light emitted from the subject through the lens 51 is reflected by the movable mirror so as to focus such as detection of contrast or detection of phase difference. It is directed to a focus detection apparatus that can be operated according to a number of principles of detection.

The output of the focus detection device by the known lens driving circuit moves the imaging lens 51 along the imaging optical axis L ₁ -L ₂ to make the imaging lens 51 in focus on the subject.

As shown in Fig. 5, the projection light unit S constituting the focus detecting auxiliary spotlight projector is disposed above the imaging lens 51. Figs. The projection light unit S is an integrated assembly of the projection lens 54, the pattern surface 55 and the light source 56. The arrangement and configuration of each part of the optical unit 53 are described below. First, is disposed to be inclined to the optical axis l ₁ -l ₂ in the optical axis l ₁ -l ₂ The image forming lens 51 of the projection lens 54, the two optical axes should cross each other at points C1. The pattern surface 55, i.e., the light transmission portion which diffuses and passes the light from the light source 56, passes through the projection lens 54 and is inclined at a plane 54a that intersects the optical axes l1-l2 at right angles. In general, the selected projection light unit 53 forms a tilting light system. In general, when the object plane is inclined with respect to the plane through the lens crossing the optical axis, the generated image plane is spatially inclined with respect to the object plane according to the Schib-Lief law. Therefore, in the projection light unit S, the pattern image surface 55 'of the surface corrugated with respect to the pattern surface 55 is formed in a spatially inclined manner with respect to the pattern surface 55 as shown in FIG. Focus).

In the illustrated embodiment, the imaging lens 51 is positioned so that the optical axes L ₁ -L ₂ partially lie on the patterned image plane 55 ′. Thus, the extension line of the surface 54a crossing the projection optical axis l ₁ -l ₂ at right angles intersects the extension line of the pattern surface 55 at point C0 located on the optical axis L ₁ -L ₂ of the imaging lens 51.

The light from the light source 56 disposed behind the pattern surface 55 passes through the pattern surface and the points P on the image plane 55 ′ where the images of points P ₁ to P ₄ on the pattern surface 55 are respectively patterned. _In a manner formed from ₁ to P ₄ , clear and unclear lines at the surface 55 are aligned on the plane 55 ′ in the direction in which the replacement pattern is parallel to the imaging optical axis L _1- L ₂ .

In an embodiment, the red light is a low-intensity wavelength range that the human eye cannot actually sense.

In the above-mentioned auxiliary spotlight projector S, if the subject is located on the patterned image plane 55 ', a sharp contrast image of good contrast can always be projected regardless of the distance to the subject.

The patterned image surface 55 'can be enlarged by increasing the size of the pattern surface 55, and if this size is increased and brighter illuminance is provided by the light source 56, the focus detection range is the optical unit. The detection capacity of 53 can be extended to the furthest allowable point.

Focus detection, achieved by an active or passive method, generally occurs only in the imaging range, referred to as the distance measurement area. In a possible embodiment, this distance measuring area is set to lie in the vicinity of the optical axis L ₁ -L ₂ of the imaging lens. Therefore, in the above embodiment, the optical axes L ₁ -L ₂ of the imaging lens 51 are located on the patterned image plane 55 'for accurate focus detection and focus adjustment.

The apparatus according to the embodiment can be manufactured in a small size since the single light projection light unit S can cover any subject in the distance measuring area which may be very large. One combined device of the projection lens 54, the pattern surface 55 and the light source can be easily assembled in the camera body to satisfy the conditions of the layout specified in the present invention.

As is apparent from the technology of the present invention, an auxiliary spotlight projector that emits a contrast pattern to measure distance is provided adjacent to the flash of the built-in flash provided to the camera body via a popup device. Therefore, the auxiliary spotlight projector does not need to be provided separately from the flash. Furthermore, if the distance measuring auxiliary spotlight projector and the flash are used simultaneously when the subject is too dark to achieve sufficient contrast, both can be placed in the protruding position at the same time.

A second embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of a built-in flash pop-up device according to the invention, where FIG. 7 is a partial vertical cross sectional view of a retracted state and FIG. 8 is a partial vertical cross sectional view of a protruding state. 9 and 10 show an embodiment of the locking device.

The penta prism 114 is housed in a penta house 112 provided at the upper end of the single-lens reflex camera body 110. The storage chamber 116 that houses the casing of the built-in flash is provided on the upper front face of the penta house 112. The storage chamber 116 has an upper end that is open for entry and exit of the casing 120. As shown in FIG. 11, the reset 116a for accommodating the pentaprism 114 is formed at the center of the lower end of the storage chamber 116. In addition, the connection storage chamber 116b is formed in the opposite side of the recess 116a.

The casing 120 includes a top plate 122 that forms an outer appearance together with the pentahouse 112 when the casing 120 is in a storage state, and a bottom plate corresponding to the recess 116a of the storage chamber 116 ( 123 and the side plate 124 located on both sides of the top plate 122 and the bottom plate 123 and only one is shown, the xenon tube (light emitter) 128 and the reflector 130 are at the top and bottom. And a light emitting chamber 125 surrounded by side plates 122, 123, and 124. Reference numeral 126 denotes a collection plate covering the front portion of the light emitting chamber 125.

One end of each of the first rotary lever 132 and the second rotary lever 138 is pivoted on the outer surface of each side plate 124 of the casing 120 through the shafts 134 and 140, respectively. The shaft 134 is disposed behind the center of the xenon tube 128, and the shaft 140 is disposed at the rear end portion. In addition, the other end of the first rotary lever 132 is pivoted on the shaft 136 disposed in the upper front portion of the side wall of the storage chamber 116, and the other end of the second rotary lever 138 is located at the same bottom rear portion. It is pivoted on the disposed shaft 142. The popup device of the casing 120 consists of a four-point connection device formed by the first and second rotary levers 132, 138. The pair of first rotary levers 132 and the pair of second rotary levers 138 are each housed in a linkage-receiving chamber 116b provided opposite the storage compartment 116.

The pair of first rotary levers 132 is connected by a connecting arm 133. The connecting arm 133 serves to secure the engagement of the four-point connector pair. The shaft 142 is disposed on the top side surface of the penta-prism 114. Each of the first rotary levers 132 is L-shaped inside each of the connection-storage chambers 116b, and the shaft 136 is disposed at the bent portion of the first rotary lever 132.

When the casing 120 is in the stowed position, the first rotary lever 132 is actually horizontal and the second rotary lever 138 is tilted downward toward the front to hold the collecting lens 126. And face the casing 120 downward. In the protruding position of the casing 120, the second rotary lever 138 is actually vertical, and the first rotary lever 132 is actually turned of the casing when the first rotary lever 132 is actually turned to the vertical position. Increase the height

Torsion spring 152 is disposed in shaft 142 of second rotation lever 138. One leg portion 152a of the spring 152 has a second rotation such that the second rotation lever 138 is moved counterclockwise in the drawing or in other words to force the casing 120 out of the storage compartment 116. It is coupled with the protrusion 138a of the lever 138.

As shown in FIG. 10, the end of the shaft 142 is inserted not only in the side wall 118a of the storage compartment 116, but also in the support wall 18b inside the storage compartment. The lock lever 150 is loosely placed on the shaft 142 between the wall 118a and the wall 118b so that it can be moved in the axial direction of the shaft 142. The other leg portion 152b of the torsion spring 152 is stationary / engaged on the protrusion 150b at one end of the lock lever 150 such that the log lever 150 is moved clockwise in the usual drawing. An end that rotates clockwise is limited by contact with the interior wall of the storage compartment 116.

Torsion spring 152 also acts as a compression spring that causes lock lever 150 to elastically squeeze toward sidewall 118a of storage compartment 116. However, as described above, the lock lever 150 is loosely placed on the shaft 152 so as to be able to move or rotate the lock lever against the travel-directional force of the spring 152.

The stop / engagement surface at the top surface of the lock lever 150 is formed as a wedge surface 150a having a bottom portion which expands more than an arc centered on the shaft 142 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 9). have. In one example, wedge surface 150a may be formed as an arc having a lower center portion than shaft 152. When the casing 120 is placed in the storage compartment 116, the wedge surface 150a is brought into frictional contact with the stop / engagement surface 132a of the first rotary lever 132, thereby half of the first rotary lever 132. Prevent rotation clockwise. The relationship between the wedge surface 150a and the stop / engagement surface 132a is such that the edge 132b of the stop / engagement surface 132a is deeper (lower) of the wedge surface 150a when the second rotary lever is moved downward. It has a contact with a point. Therefore, the stop / engagement prevents the counterclockwise rotation of the second rotation lever 138 due to the force of the torsion spring 132, so that the casing 120 can be held in the stowed position.

The engagement / disengagement between the first rotation lever 132 of the lock lever 150 is released by the push button 154 provided through the side wall 118a of the storage compartment 116. The push button 154 is connected to an operation unit (not shown) that protrudes out of the penta house 112.

When the push button 154 is pushed down, the lock lever 150 is moved inward against the force of the torsion spring 152 by the upper end of the push button 154 facing the lock lever 150, Wedge surface 150a is released from stop / engagement surface 132a.

Pairs of switching members 149, each consisting of an operating bar 144 and a contact 148, are provided at both ends of the bottom of the storage compartment 116. The upper end of the operation bar is formed by a protrusion 146 extending into the storage chamber. The switching member 149 acts as a switch of the light emitting circuit. When the casing 120 is in the retracted position, the protrusion 146 is pressed by the second rotary lever 138, so that the operation bar is detached from the contact 148 to open the circuit. In contrast, when the casing 120 is in the protruding position, the second rotary lever 138 is displaced from the protrusion 146, so that the actuation bar contacts the contact 148 to close the circuit. In this case, preparation for light emission of the built-in flash is started. The pair of switching members 149 is provided to more assure the switching operation.

The following describes the operation of the popup device according to the second embodiment.

When the built-in flash is used, the operating portion of the push button 154 is pushed down in the stored state of FIG. As a result, the lock lever 150 is moved in the axial direction of the shaft 142 to separate the wedge surface 150a from the stationary engagement surface 132a. As a result, the second rotary lever 138 is moved counterclockwise by the rotational force of the torsion spring 152 to move the casing 120 connected to the second and first rotary levers 138 and 132 toward the protruding position. Move upward. In this protruding position, the second lever 138 is separated from the protrusion 146 of the actuation bar 144 and the actuation bar 144 is made to contact the contact 148, thereby closing the switch circuit to close the strobe device. Start preparing to work.

When storing the built-in flash, the top plate 122 of the casing 120 is manually pushed by hand. As a result, the casing 120 enters the storage chamber 116 while rotating the first and second rotation levers 132 and 138 in the clockwise direction. Just before the casing 120 reaches the stowed position, the edge 132b of the stop / engagement surface 132a of the first rotary lever 132 is in contact with the wedge surface 150a of the lock lever 150 to lock the lever. Press 150 downward. Thus, before the casing 120 reaches the stowed position, the edge 132b jumps over the top of the wedge surface 150a to connect with the wedge surface 150a. The frictional contact between the edge 132b of the first stop / engagement surface 132a and the wedge surface 150a prevents counterclockwise rotation of the first rotation lever 132. When the casing is pressed further downward, the wedge surface 150a of the lock lever 150 is in frictional contact with the edge 132b of the stop / engagement surface 132a at a deeper point, so that the casing 120 is in this position. Is locked.

Therefore, no space is created between the ceiling plate 122 and the storage chamber 116. In addition, since the second rotation lever 138 pushes the protrusion 146 of the operation bar 144 in the retracted position, the operation bar 144 is separated from the contact 148 to block the light emitting circuit.

As can be seen from the above description, the dimple connection device can move the flash casing between the stowed position and the projected position. Therefore, the popup device is advantageous in that assembly workability is good, the number of parts is small, and the operation is sure.

In addition, it is easy to place the flash in a higher and more advanced protruding position. Therefore, it is also used in the case of a long focal-distance zoom lens or a long focal-distance lens having a long cylinder, and the light from the flash is never blocked by the cylinder.

Although the lock lever 150 is linearly moved in the axial direction of the shaft 142 in the embodiment, the lock lever 150 may be made to be moved obliquely or flexibly.

The invention described above shows an example of a popup device, but is not limited to the specific embodiment. Of course, other popup devices are equally applicable in the present invention as long as the flash is held in the retracted position by a lever that rotates in response to a non-flash popup operation and a lock lever associated with the lever.

In a pop-up device, by providing a wedge action surface to the lock lever that locks the flash to the retracted position, the wedge action allows the flash to be held in the retracted position. Thus, the flash can be held in the stowed position without an idle distance due to the gap of the stop / engagement portion. As a result, it never worsens the appearance of the camera.

The conventional built-in flash has a light emitting surface that stares toward the subject when the flash unit is in the protruding position. The emission angle relationship of the flash and the camera lens is as shown in FIG. 12, and the emission range by light emission of the flash unit 250 is in the region between the lines f ₁ and f ₂ . On the other hand, the photographing range by the camera lens 254 of the camera body 252 is in the area between the lines S1 and S2. Thus, the light emission does not reach the area indicated by the hatched line in FIG. That is, the light emission does not reach some area limited by the camera lens 254. If photography is performed when the subject is closer than the intersection a of the lines f ₂ and S ₁ , the film is partially underexposed because the light emission does not reach the hatching line region. This phenomenon is particularly problematic when taking pictures with a mat for the purpose of close-up photography.

Moreover, even though the light emission is designed to reach a close distance, the film by macro photography is overexposed because the amount of light emission cannot be reduced from a predetermined value. This phenomenon causes a problem that makes proper exposure impossible during macro photography.

These problems can be solved by widening the flash and radiation angles. However, widening the radiation angle introduces a new problem of limited distance shooting.

Accordingly, the third embodiment of the present invention provides a flash unit in a storage chamber provided at an upper end of a camera body such that the flash unit can be moved between an accommodation position where the flash unit is stored in the storage chamber and a protruding position where the flash unit protrudes from the storage chamber. The camera's built-in flash unit is integrated into the improvement. The improvement measures the flash unit with the light emitting surface facing forward toward the subject so that the normal shooting when the flash unit is in the protruding position and further downward toward the subject for macro shooting when the flash unit is in the stowed position, A light-transmittable material is provided in front of the compartment such that the light emitter is disposed facing the emitting surface when the light emitter is stored in the compartment, and enables the flash unit to emit light not only in the protruding position but also in the storing position. Characterized by the made. The light transmissible material is arranged to face the light emitting surface when the light emitter is received in the storage compartment.

Moreover, an ND filter or a diffusion lens can be used as the light transmissible material to reduce the amount of light so that an appropriate exposure can be obtained.

The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. 13 and 14 show vertical cameras taken along the optical axis, respectively, with a camera having a built-in flash as an embodiment according to the invention. The pentaprism 214 is housed in a penta-house 212 provided at the upper end of the single-lens reflex camera body 210. The storage compartment for storing the flash unit 220 of the built-in flash is provided on the upper front surface of the penta_house 212.

The flash unit 220 is moved between a storage position (see FIG. 13) in which the flash unit 220 is accommodated in the storage compartment and a projected position (see FIG. 14) in which the flash unit 220 protrudes from the storage chamber 216. It is attached to the storage chamber 216 through a known connecting device.

The flash unit 220 includes a ceiling plate 222 that forms an exterior together with the penta-house when the flash unit 220 is in the storage position, and a lower plate 224 and a ceiling plate formed along the lower end of the storage chamber 216. And a side plate 226 for covering between the 222 and the bottom plate 224. A Fresnel lens (condensing lens) 230 serving as a light emitting surface is attached to the front surface of the light emitting chamber 228 surrounded by the ceiling, the bottom and the side plates 222, 224 and 226. The xenon tube 232 and the reflector 234 are housed in the light emitting chamber 228.

One of the important aspects of the present invention is that the Fresnel lens 230 is arranged to face the subject during macro shooting when the flash unit 220 is in the retracted state.

A connection device for popping up the flash unit 220 is provided between the side plates 226 on the left and right sides of the flash unit 220 and the wall surface of the storage compartment 216. The structure on the left side is the same as the structure on the right side. Therefore, one side of the connecting device will be described below. Each end of the first and second levers 236, 238 is pivoted to the side plate 226 through the shaft, and the other end is pivoted to the penta-house 212 through the shaft.

In short, these levers and shafts constitute a point connection device.

Torsion springs (not shown) are attached to the second lever 238 to normally move the second lever 238 counterclockwise. Alternatively, in other words, the flash unit 220 is moved upward or forward. In addition, a lock member (not shown) for holding the flash unit 220 in the storage chamber is provided in the second lever 238 and the penta-house 212.

In addition to the above-described configuration, an optical transmission capable 218 is provided in front of the storage chamber 216 to face the Fresnel lens 230 in parallel when the flash unit 220 is in the storage position. A transparent glass plate, a diffusion plate, an ND filter, or the like can be used as the light transmitting plate 218. The angle of the optically transmissive plate 218 is adjusted so that the normal on the optically transmissive plate 218 intersects the optical axis of the camera lens system at the midpoint of the imageable distance in macro shooting.

The built-in stroboscopic flash also has a switch to allow light emission when the flash unit 220 is in the stowed position. The conventional retractable built-in strobe flash cannot emit light when housed, but the flash according to the present invention can emit light by being switched even when housed.

Therefore, the built-in strobe flash described above is operated as follows. In normal photography, the flash unit 220 is held in the stowed position as shown in FIG. 13 when not in use. In use, the flash unit 220 protrudes to the position shown in FIG. 14 by halting / unlocking the lock member.

In macro photography, light emission is made while the flash unit 220 is held in the storage position. When light is emitted in this state, the light emitted from the xenon tube 232 passes through the Fresnel lens 230 and the light-transmittable plate 218 to reach the subject. Emission by the flash is in the region between lines F1 and F2 in FIG. Therefore, flash photography can be performed even when the subject is separated from the intersection A of the lines F2 and F2. Although the radiation by the flash unit 220 in the projecting position is in a narrow area between the lines f1 f2 in FIG. 15 as compared with the above-described embodiment, it is possible to bring the camera closer to the subject by light emission in the stored state. Able to know.

The invention of the apparatus for receiving and projecting the flash unit 220 is not limited to the above specific embodiment. As an example, the present invention is applicable even when the rear end of the flash unit 220 is pivoted only by the shaft.

In the embodiment, the case where the flash unit 220 is projected by the spring force is shown, the flash unit 220 may be moved to the stowed position and the projected position by the electric motor. As an example, this variant can be easily obtained by providing a sector gear about the center of rotation of the first or second levers 236, 238 to cooperate with the row of gears connected by the electric motor and the row of gears.

As can be seen from the above description of the present invention, the flash unit having the light emitting surface facing the subject even when the flash unit is in the retracted state is provided with the light-transmittable material provided in front of the storage compartment for storing the flash unit. Even when the flash unit is stored in the storage chamber, light emission (light emission) can be performed. Therefore, even in the case of macro photography, the object can be radiated uniformly. Since the ND filter or diffuser lens can be used as a light-transmittable material that reduces the amount of light in the built-in flash, it is easy to achieve proper exposure in macro photography.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIG. An upper plate 311 is provided on the upper portion of the single-lens reflex camera. A flash unit storage chamber 312 is provided on the top plate 311 so as to be positioned over the pentaprism of the top plate 311.

The flash unit 315 is pivoted in the flash unit storage chamber 312 by a pair of shafts 313 arranged on the rear surface of the storage chamber. A front surface of the flash unit 315 has a light emitting surface (fresnel lens) 316. A known flash device, not shown, such as a light emitting tube, a reflector, or the like, is provided in the flash unit 315. The flash unit 315 is aligned around the shaft 313, and the flash unit 315 is placed in the receiving position shown by solid lines in the drawing, the bounce position shown by the three-dot chain lines, and the normal light emitting position shown by the two-dot chain lines. It is mobile. The normal light emitting position is the position where the light emitting surface 316 faces the subject. The storage position is a position where the light emitting surface 316 faces downward in a direction toward the subject and is a position where the flash unit is accommodated in the flash unit storage chamber 312.

The bouncing position refers to a location area where the light emitting surface 316 is fully upwardly directed at the normal light emitting position and can move within these areas. In the figure, the position at which the light emitting surface 316 is fully upward is shown.

The sector gear 318 provided coaxially with the shaft 313 is fixed to the side of the flash unit 315. The sector gear 318 is connected to the drive motor 320 through a row of gears 319. Thus, when the drive motor 320 is operated in reverse, the flash unit rotates around the shaft 313 to take one of the three positions described above.

The code plate 322 for detecting and controlling the position of the flash unit 315 is fixed to the side of the sector gear 318. Since the code plate 322, which is not shown in pattern, contacts the brushes 323 and 324 fixed to the top plate 311, not only the storage position and the protruding position can be detected through the brushes 323 and 324. Multiple levels of bouncing positions can be detected.

When the built-in flash described above is not used, the flash unit 315 is moved to the position as shown by the solid line, causing the driving motor 320 to rotate the light emitting surface 316 below the direction of the subject, and the flash unit ( 315 may be stored in flash unit storage chamber 312. In use, the drive mutter 320 can be operated to move the flash unit 315 to the position shown by the dashed two-dotted lines, to protrude the flash unit 315. As an example, the flash-projection signal, that is, the driving signal for the driving motor 320 may be obtained by a release button connected to a device for detecting the brightness of the subject or by a flash-up switch (not shown). In other words, the flash unit 315 can be automatically projected by pressing the release button once when the subject is dark. The stop signal for the normal emission position can be obtained by the turn-position-detection signal from the brushes 323 and 324 in contact with the code plate 322. As described above, when protruding to the normal light emitting position, the flash unit 315 waits until the light emitting circuit is fully charged so that light can be taken and photographed (or simply called light emitting photography).

After the flash photography is completed, for example, flash-up switch reactivation, operation of another switch for accommodating the flash, creation of another switch for accommodating the flash, generation of a signal for detecting a hand pressing the release button, and the like. Reverse drive motor 320 by suitable means. When the driving motor 320 is reversed, the flash unit may be stored in the flash unit storage chamber 312. The storage position detection and the stop of the drive motor 320 can be made in the manner described above via the code plate 322 and the brushes 323, 324.

On the other hand, in the case of bouncing shooting, the drive motor 320 continues to operate via the bouncing-emitting switch. When the drive motor 320 is operated, the flash unit 315 is further moved upward from the normal light emitting position so that the light emitting surface 316 moves below the upwardly pointing position of the subject. Thus, the photographer selects the angle of the light emitting surface 316 and releases the bounce-light switch when the light emitting surface is adapted to that angle. In the simplest way, the light emitting surface 316 can automatically move to the position of the three-dot dashed line towards the sky when the bounce-lighting switch is activated.

Another method of operation in reflex photography is to provide a bounce-angle changeover dial to set the angle of the flash unit 315 so that the flash unit 315 can be rotated to the angle set by the dial. Can be. This control can be facilitated by the bounce-angle changeover dial connected to the drive motor 320, the brushes 323 and 324, and the code plate 322.

After the bounce-shooting is completed, the flash unit 315 can be moved to the stowed position by the drive motor 320 through reactivation of the bounce-light switch, operation of another flash-receiving switch, and the like as described above. have.

Although the embodiment is illustrated in which the flash unit 315 can rotate around the shaft 313 to rotate to any one of the receiving position, the normal light emitting position and the bouncing position, it is an apparatus for moving the flash unit 315. Connection means, such as a four-bar connection, can be used. The flash unit 315 is supported to rotate the light emitting surface 316 forward (normal light emitting position), down (storing position) and up (bouncing position) with respect to the subject, and the flash unit 315 is driven by the electric motor. If it can be moved, any means can be selected.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the flash unit can be moved between the stowed position and the projected position by the electric motor, and the impact due to the movement of the flash unit between the projected position and the stowed position is prevented, thus providing a high level of operation. I can get a sense. In addition, the light emitting surface of the flash unit can be moved above the subject direction to enable bounce-shooting without requiring another external flash. Thus, the functionality of a single camera in photography can be extended.

FIG. 16A shows a variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16. In this variant, the drive motor is removed, and instead, a screw 320 ', which can be manually operated in order to allow the operator to select the desired flash angle, is provided outside the camera body. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide detection means for controlling the flash position.

As described above, it is also possible to divide the flash and spotlight for the xenon flash so that the flash and the spotlight can be operated independently of each other if necessary. In this case, it is also possible to manually operate the rotational positions of the xenon flash and the spotlight without using a drive motor as shown in FIG.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19.

Top plate 411 is provided on top of the single-lens reflex camera. The flash unit storage chamber 413 is provided on the top plate 411 to be disposed on the penta prism 412.

In the flash unit storage chamber 413, the ground plate 414 is horizontally fixed to the back surface of the flash unit storage chamber 413. The pair of slide plates 415 are provided on the opposite side of the ground plate 414 to slide in the longitudinal direction. The guide device for the slide plate 415 has a guide pin 416 fixed at the opposite end to the ground plate 414 so that the position of the slide plate 415 can be different from each other, and the slide plate 415 to fit the guide pin 416 respectively. It consists of a slot 417 provided in.

The pair of slide plates 415 are provided with racks 418 facing each other. A pair of gears 419 having the same number of teeth and supported to rotate on the ground plate 414 is engaged with the rack 418. The gears 419 are meshed with each other. One of the gears 419 is rotated by the electric motor 421 via the reduction gear train 420. Thus, the slide plate 415 moves in the forward and reverse directions in the same direction when the electric motor 421 is forward and reverse rotation.

Each pair of slide plates 415 is provided with an upper-bend edge 422 between which a flash unit 424 is rotatably supported by a shaft 423. Since the flash unit 424 does not have a condenser lens body, the front surface thereof is the light emitting surface 425, and a conventional flash device such as a light emitting tube 426, a reflector 427, and the like is housed in the flash unit 424. It is.

The pair of cam plates 428 formed to be bent upwards are disposed on both sides of the ground plate 424. The cam plate 428 is provided with a cam hole 429 for controlling the posture of the flash unit 424. The hole 429 is used for the insertion of a pair of pins 430 protruding from the side of the flash unit 424, in particular, each cam hole 429 is a horizontal receiving cam portion 429a and the protruding cam portion 429b and the amount thereof. It consists of the inclined cam part 429c which connects a cam part. When the pin 430 is inserted into the corresponding storage cam portion 429a, the flash unit 424 is received into the flash unit storage chamber 413 to rotate the light emitting surface 425 downward. When the pin 430 is inserted into the corresponding protruding cam portion 429b, the light emitting surface 425 rotates around the shaft 423 to face the subject to protrude the flash unit 424 from the flash unit storage chamber 413.

It has a swing arm 433 extending rearward from both sides of a Fresnel lens plate (condensing lens body) 432 disposed in front of the light emitting surface 425 of the flash unit 424. The bearing pin 435 is provided at the rear end of the swing arm 433, and the pin 435 is rotatably supported by the pivot hole 434 in the side wall of the flash unit storage chamber 413.

The swing arm 433 of the Fresnel lens plate 432 is provided with an interlock slot 436, in which an interlock pin 438 protruding from both sides of the flash unit 424 is inserted. The interlock slot 436 and the interlock pin 438 place the Fresnel lens plate 432 parallel to the front surface of the light emitting surface 425 when the flash unit 424 is in the retracted position, while the flash unit is positioned in the protruding position ( And to interlock the Fresnel lens plate 432 parallel to the front surface of the light emitting surface 425 when facing the normal light emitting position.

The built-in flash described above according to this embodiment operates as follows. Assume the flash is in the stowed position as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. One of the gears 419 directly connected to the electric motor 421 is rotated by the electric motor 421 in the direction of the arrow, and the other gear 419 is rotated in the opposite direction. The pair of slide plates 415 is moved rearward upon engagement between the gear 419 and the gear 418. The flash unit 424 rotatably supported by the shaft 423 at the upper curved edge 422 of the slide plate 415 is also moved rearward. The position of the pin 430 of the flash unit 424 is moved. From the receiving cam portion 429a to the inclined cam portion 429c of the cam hole 429, the flash unit 424 is rotated around the shaft 323 so that the light emitting surface 425 faces upward. As a result, the pin 430 is inserted into the protruding cam portion 429b, so that the light emitting surface 425 is precisely directed to the subject. When the flash unit 424 is moved upward, the interlock pins 438 inserted in these sides are also moved upward. Thus, the Fresnel lens plate 432 locked by the interlock pin 438 and the interlock slot 436 also moves around the pin 435 and upwards to the front of the light emitting surface 425. Thus, light emission preparation is completed.

In this state, when the slide plate 415 is further moved rearward, the pin 430 of the flash unit 424 is moved into the protruding cam portion 429b and the interlock pin 438 is moved into the interlock slot 436. Thus, the distance l between the light emitting surface 425 and the Fresnel lens plate 432 changes. Since the distance l changes, the emission angle of the light emission emitted from the Fresnel lens plate 432 changes. That is, since the light emitting surface 425 is significantly away from the Fresnel lens plate 432, the flash emission angle becomes narrower to suit telephoto lenses. In contrast, when the light emitting surface 425 approaches the Fresnel lens plate 423, an emission angle suitable for a wide angle photographing lens can be obtained.

When the electric motor 412 is reversed, the slide plate 415 moves forward. Thus, the flash unit 424 and the Fresnel lens plate 432 move downward in the reverse direction to the above-described operation, and the flash unit 424 returns to the stowed position as shown in FIG.

For example, a flash-only switch can be provided for switching and rotation control of the electric motor 421 for moving the flash unit 424 from the stowed position to the projected position. Alternatively, the device for detecting the brightness of the subject and the release button may be connected to each other so that the flash unit 424 may protrude when the release button is pressed halfway while the brightness is smaller than the predetermined value. For example, the distance l between the light emitting surface 425 and the Fresnel lens plate 432 in the normal light emitting position can be set by manual operation of the focal length setting member or by automatic operation, and by automatic operation. In the case of setting, in order to obtain the focal length information electrically or mechanically, the position of the slide plate is controlled by the electric motor 421 in accordance with the focal length information.

As described above, according to the present invention, the emission angle (illumination angle) of the flash can be changed. Therefore, it is possible to correct the emission angle according to the focal length of the camera lens. The flash unit can also be moved by an electric motor, so that any impact due to the movement of the flash between the projecting position and the receiving position can be prevented and thus a high level of operating sensation can be obtained.

Claims (2)

The built-in flash auto pop-up device provided with a flash in the storage compartment 112 provided on the pentaprism 114 in the camera body 10 so as to be movable to the storage position and the protruding position by the rotation operation of the rotation lever 132. A lock device for locking the built-in flash operation popup device, comprising: an upper stop / engagement surface 15a arranged to engage / disengage with the stop surface 132a of the rotary lever 132 moved to the flash receiving position. And a lock lever 150 having a lock lever 150 pivoted into the storage compartment 112, and the stop / engagement surface 150a of the lock lever 150 stops the rotation lever 132. Built-in flash auto pop-up device, characterized in that it is mounted to move in the axial direction of the rotary lever (132) to engage or disengage with the engaging surface (132a). A built-in flash pop-up device provided with a flash in a storage compartment provided on a pentaprism 114 in a camera body 10 so as to be moved between a retracted position and a projected position by a rotational operation of the rotary lever 132, wherein the built-in flash pop-up The locking device for locking the device has a lock lever 150 with an upper stop / engagement surface 150a, which lock lever 150 is moved when the rotary lever 132 is moved toward the flash receiving position. Built-in flash pop-up device, characterized in that formed by the wedge surface having a wedge function.

Images